Two ice pucks collide on a frictionless horizontal rink and stick together
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Mechanics and materials · Mechanics and materials
Problem
Two ice pucks collide on a frictionless horizontal rink and stick together. Puck A has mass 0.25 kg and velocity (6i+2j) m/s, while puck B has mass 0.35 kg and velocity (−3i+5j) m/s just before impact. Treat the system as isolated during the collision and answer the following questions:
(i) Determine the total linear momentum of the system immediately before the collision.
(ii) Calculate the common velocity vector of the combined mass just after they stick together.
(iii) Compute the percentage loss in kinetic energy caused by the collision.
(iv) Briefly explain whether momentum and kinetic energy are conserved in this event, supporting your statement with results from parts (i)–(iii).